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★ LIVE FREE OR DIE EXPO ★ THE HOLY MACKEREL ★ STEVE GULBIN ★
issue 162
November
2015
contents
12
Point 2 Point
SOM
16
14
Ask Angel
The Holy
Mackerel
18
staff
Publisher
Ralph Garza
Editor-In-Chief
R Cantu
Sales Coordinator
Michael Gonzales
[email protected]
Art Director
Bill Wetsel
[email protected]
Contributing Writers
Elayne Angel
Jay Cousins
Austin Ray
Darin Burt
Judi Perkins
Tanya Madden
APP
20
Sexier Side
26-27
Jenifer
Barreras-Kirk
Show/Expo
28
Studio Insurance
30
Best Business
Card Contest
42, 44
Live Free or Die
Tattoo Expo
Art Gallery
46
PAINful Classic:
Todd Barry’s
Artist Profile
40-41
Steve Gulbin
advertisers index
99cent Body Jewelry
43
Allan Studio Fixtures
36
APP 21st Annual Conference & Expo 2016
21
APT 7th Annual Tattoo Trade Show 2016
48
Arctic Buffalo
50
Armor Gel
45
Body Art Solutions
24
BodyJewelry.com
37
Body Shock
47
Body Vibe / Salesone
4
Bicknee Tattoo Supply Company
49
Desert Palms Emu Ranch
17
DEScover Up
29
DPS Tattoo Products
7
Eternal Tattoo Supply 52-Inside Back Cover
Friction Wholesale Tattoo Supply
13
Galaxy Tattoo Supplies
32
H2Ocean Natural Aftercare
9, 51
Invictus Body Jewelry / Salesone
5
Metal Mafia Cover Sponsor
IFC-1
Micky Sharpz USA
10
Back Cover
Myke Chambers
Inside Back Cover
NABink.com
39
Needlejig
25
Nuclear Tattoo Supply
23
Painful Pleasures
6
Palmero Health Care
37
PPIB
31
PRIDE Aftercare
11
Rejuvi Labs
38
Signature Needles / H2Ocean
51
Tat Soul
2-3, 11, 35
Tatt2Away
29
Tatu you
33
Tattoo Goo
15
Tattoo T-Shirt Club
32
Tattoo Vanish
20
Tech Toos
31
Tommy’s Supplies
19
True Tubes
33
Welker Tattoo Needles
52
PAINMAGAZINE 8
Monster Steel
Editor
Sandy Caputo
Account Executive
Jennifer Orellana
[email protected]
[email protected]
505-332-3003
Executive Assistant
Richard DePreist
[email protected]
505-275-6049
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Wholesale body jewelry & piercing supplies.
Great selection, fast delivery, awesome service
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Marlo Marquise &
Victoria LeMeow at
Live Free or Die Tattoo
Expo. See page 28
W
here has the year gone? We hope you are
all enjoying the fast approaching holidays!
It is crazy to think that we will be ringing in
a new year in just a short couple of months...
and thus two of the best issues for the year
are coming your way. Start your engines pain readers!
First, take a look at the 9th annual Live Free or Die Tattoo
Expo that was held this past July! The 127 Artist and Vendor
show sold out weeks prior to the start of the expo and we can
see why...have you been? Make sure this show tops your list
next year as they ring in 10 years!
Do you consider yourself a talented artist? If so, let the
readers of Pain Magazine be the judge! Please send us your best
to [email protected] for a chance to show off your work!
Did you know that there is an appropriate level of insurance
to carry to keep yourself and your shop from going under in case
of a lawsuit? Check out Studio Insurance by Judi Perkins this
month to make sure you and your shop are properly protected.
Don’t make the mistake that so many other shop owners do.
We will see you all next month as we close out 2015! Until then...
PAINMAGAZINE 10
PointtoPoint
Jay Cousins
Jamaica
amaica is the third largest island in the
Caribbean. Kingston Harbor is the 7th
largest natural harbor in the world and
contributed to the city being designated
as the capital in 1872. Jamaica is
approximately 600 miles south of Miami,
Florida and an airline flight takes passengers
directly over Cuba.
J
Jamaica has a population of 2.8 million.
Jamaicans are of predominantly African
descent (92%) with significant European,
Chinese, Indian and mixed race minorities.
Jamaica is best known for its strong global
musical influences. Raggae, ska, mento,
rocksteady, dub and more recently dancehall
and ragga all originated in Jamaica and are
popular musical genres worldwide.
Jamaica was previously inhabited by
the indigenous Arawak and Taino peoples.
The Arawaks and Taino originated in South
America and settled on the island between
4000-1000 BC. The island came under
Spanish control following the arrival of
Christopher Columbus in 1494, Named
Santiago, Jamaica remained a possession of
Spain until 1655 when England conquered
the island and renamed it Jamaica. Under
British rule, Jamaica became a leading sugar
exporter at 77,000 tons of sugar exported
yearly. Its plantation economy was highly
dependent on slaves imported from Africa.
Full emancipation was granted to all slaves
in 1838 and the country became independent
from the United Kingdom on August 6, 1962.
Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm
with Queen Elizabeth II as its Monarch and
Head of State. Jamaica is a parliamentary
constitutional monarchy with legislative
powers vested in the Parliament of Jamaica.
According to United Nations crime
statistics, Jamaica has had one of the highest
murder rates in the world for many years.
Some areas of Jamaica, especially cities such
as Kingston still experience high levels
of crime and violence. Many of the murders
in Jamaica are connected to organized
crime in the countries urban centers. Most
organized crime centers around the illegal
drug trade. In 2005, Jamaica had 1674
murders giving it the highest murder rate in
the world. Murder rates are dropping in
Jamaica since 2011 due to increased
police patrols, mandatory curfews and more
effective anti-gang activities.
When you look at the tattoos people
in Jamaica have, a lot of them have to do
with memories of other people whether it’s
loved ones, family, children or those who
have passed away, according to Courtney
Buckley, a well known tattoo artist and
owner of Klymaxx Tattoos in Jamaica.
Phillip Shaw is another well respected
tattoo artist in Jamaica and added that
Jamaicans also get tattoos of rap stars,
DJ’s and popular sports figures. He also
said Jamaican men usually get tattoos of
animals, crosses and tribal designs.
Jamaican women usually get tattoos
depicting floral designs.
Because Jamaica falls under an
English Common Law Model, they loosely
follow a set of European Union Laws
monitoring the tattoo and body ar t
i n d u s t r y. J a m a i c a h a s s e e n s o m e
unscrupulous tattooists cut corners on
tattoo procedures. According to the
Jamaica Online Star newspaper, a
teenager claimed she contracted a strain
of herpes in 2013 after receiving a lip
piercing. “I’m not sexually active,” said
the teen. The doctor diagnosed a strain
of genital herpes and suspected that the
needle used to pierce her lip was also
u s e d o n a n o t h e r c l i e n t ’s i n f e c t e d
genitals without an intervening sterilization
procedure. The Star also reported that the
practice of re-using or re-cycling tattoo ink
and piercing needles is much higher at
large events such as parties that offer the
ser vice for free. Prominent Jamaican
doctor Jephthah Ford said artists in
Jamaica who re-use tattoo and piercing
needles should face the full brunt of
the law.
“Is there a law?” Courtney Buckley
sarcastically commented that most tattoos
are even older than the law books.
According to a well-respected government
official in Jamaica, some shops operate
under the radar and are illegally run by
teenagers looking to make money.
Despite the practice of countries such
as the United States to implement a law
that specifically deals with tattooing of
minors and unsafe tattoo and piercing
practices, for Jamaica to implement such
a law will require a client to die or contract
a deadly or life threatening virus for strict
tattoo laws to take effect.
Tattoo shops in Jamaica are not well
monitored or regulated and shop safety
is up to the client to ensure they protect
their health. There are well run shops in
Jamaica that pay close attention to
pathogen control and blood borne illness
controls. o
Jay Cousins works for the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. He started working for the city in 1985. In 1994 he started working
for the restaurant, swimming pool, and body art inspection program. He has approximately 600 facilities in his jurisdiction, including body art
establishments. He started doing body art inspections in 1999 and has conducted over 500 body art facility inspections since then.
Jay is also a high school and college baseball umpire and works as a fill-in umpire for the Albuquerque Isotopes.
PAINMAGAZINE 12
T
here are lot of tattoo shops that have piercers on their staff,
but few that are owned by a piercer who has tattoo artists
as part of the crew.
That's how Verno Musselman set out to build Holy Mackerel
Studios, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Verno started piercing on the
West Coast after attending Cal Tech and working in a soul
draining lab tech position. He made his way to the mid-west
working in various tattoo shops from Fullerton, California to the
Twin Cities area. The issue was that these were places where the
focus was on tattooing and piercing was an afterthought.
“I wanted to have a space that was well taken care of for
me as a piercer,” Verno says. “Many shops where piercers work
are owned by tattoo artists, and they don't always have the
piercer's best interest in mind. They're not always offering quality
jewelry or even hiring piercers who are highly educated.”
The original location of the shop was 3,500 square feet, and
offered Verno the ability to create an open and inviting environment,
and to
make space for a
handful of tattoo artists
to join in his creative
endevour. Since opening in
2005, the floor space has
doubled to include a huge lobby,
two private piercing rooms, and
an art workshop. There's an industrial feel to the space, but there
are no partitions blocking anyone's view to what's going on.
“I wanted a space that's really open for the clientele,” Verno
says. “We're pretty booked out, but we take walk-ins when we can.
It might be something small, but if we can create a great environment for them, they may come back and get something bigger.”
More space means more crew. Working along with Verno at
Holy Mackerel Studio are apprentice piercer Nick Christensen
and tattoo artists Garrett Meyers, Benny Stanphill, Travis Lee
Chavez, Steven Skorjanec, Sam Dunn, and Nick Gagnon.
continued on page 22
PAINMAGAZINE 14
Ask Elayne Angel
Elayne Angel Author The Piercing Bible—The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing President, Association of Professional Piercers
Prince Albert Pointers
& The “Lenny” Piercing
Dear Elayne,
I feel like my piercing skills are just fine, but there are a few things about Prince Albert anatomy and placement that I am just
not sure about.
I can’t figure out where PA piercings are supposed to go on guys who are uncut. I was circumcised and I find foreskin confusing
to deal with even though I’m a guy. Where exactly should a PA go on an uncircumcised man?
The other thing is, on some of the heavier men, their penis kind of disappears into their body. Is it okay to put a PA piercing
on that kind of build?
Thank you in advance R.
Dear R.,
natomy in this region varies quite a bit
from one man to the next, so a careful
evaluation is important, along with attention to certain fundamental considerations.
A
Appropriate placement is on the
underside of the shaft, just below its juncture
with the glans. To locate this spot, you must
fully retract the foreskin. If it cannot be
pulled back far enough to expose the shaft,
the anatomy is unsuited.
Uncut men, and others who have
webbing along the midline, must have the
PA placed slightly off center to avoid
piercing through webbed tissue. (Though
on builds that are flat along the midline, it
is perfectly fine to pierce in the center.)
You’ll need to check closely for
visible vascularity and work around it.
On occasion, I’ve seen men whose entire
PA zone is clustered with unavoidable
blood vessels. If the piercing would need
to be placed 3/8” (10mm) or more from
the midline to bypass the veins, it is unadvisable to proceed because the jewelry
would rest at too extreme an angle.
If there are no such issues to guide
your selection of which side to pierce,
consider alignment with the urethral
opening. Also, sometimes the web
overlays or folds to the left or right, and
the unobstructed side would be preferred.
For safety, there should be at least
1/2” between the piercing and the lower
edge of the urethra when the penis is
flaccid. While deciding on placement, I
always inquire whether future stretches to
large sizes are under consideration or
already planned. If so, and the man
doesn’t have a substantial distance
between the piercing and the edge of the
urethra, place it a little further down the
shaft. To support jumbo gauges, the
piercing should encompass at least 5/8”
when the penis is flaccid.
look. If it remains stable against the shaft,
then a PA piercing is feasible—if all of the
other conditions are also met.
Similarly, men whose anatomy
“turtles” (the glans retracts into the pubic
mound) can have PA piercings if the jewelry
rests without putting pressure against the
body. In both cases, I use a lower-profile,
customized style of jewelry for the healing
period—usually a 10 gauge.
It is critical that jewelry never keep
the foreskin retracted (prevent it from resting
over the glans) for long periods of time.
The tissue will swell, filling with fluid causing
a condition called paraphimosis, which
necessitates medical attention.
I select a circular barbell that is two
or more diameters smaller than the correct
fit and use ring-opening pliers to widen it
considerably. I create an extended curved
bar in a low u-shape that conforms to
the area and allows the foreskin to rest
unimpeded, or for the glans to turtle back
into the body.
Another essential requirement is that
the pierced tissue must be stable on the
shaft. On some men, the skin that is in the
right area when the foreskin is retracted,
rolls to the exterior when the foreskin
rests naturally.
This style has more ease than a regular
curved bar, stays centered better, and keeps
the balls from resting too snugly against
the body. Also, it is much easier to wear a
condom over this shape, as compared to a
circular piece of jewelry.
To test for this, fully retract the foreskin,
mark a dot for the desired placement, and
then replace the foreskin over the glans. If
you can see your mark on the surface of
the foreskin, then the individual is not a
candidate for a Prince Albert. If you don’t
see your dot, lift the edge of the foreskin to
Some uncircumcised men are
suited for Prince Albert piercings and others
must be declined. By adhering to these
guidelines, you can help to assure that all
of the PAs you do will be successful. o
PAINMAGAZINE 16
Dear Elayne,
I saw the news about Lenny Kravitz having a “wardrobe malfunction” at a concert when his pants split and showed off his jewelry—
a pubic piercing, right? I read that you were the one who did that piercing on him.
I have had guys asking about getting a “Lenny” piercing, though some don’t even know where the jewelry is supposed to go. LOL.
Anyway, I was taught that pubic piercings always reject so I never did them. Obviously, according to the news anyway, you did his a
long time ago—like in the 90s? Is that really true? If so, then you seem to know something my teacher didn’t. What advice do you have about
doing pubic (or “Lenny”) piercings?
Thanks G.
Hi G.,
Lenny Kravitz does have a pubic piercing that I performed for
him back in the mid 1990s, so he’s worn it (continuously, he said) for
around 20 years! I’ve found that when certain principles are followed,
this piercing heals well and remains viable on a long-term basis.
The proper placement for a pubic piercing is right in the juncture
where the top of the penile shaft meets the pubic mound. Simply lift
the penis to locate the natural crease.
For a pubic piercing to be durable the placement should be
wider than that of most other piercings: I encompass a minimum of
about 3/4” of tissue between entry and exit, and use 10-gauge
jewelry, initially.
Additionally, the body must be configured with localized anatomy
that will accommodate the jewelry. Individuals with a groove that is
too deep, or those who are built too narrow may not be suited. If the
structures would cause pressure against the jewelry, the piercing
should be avoided.
Finally, tissue pliability is also a key factor. If the skin there is
dense, tight, and doesn’t pinch up well, I decline.
I mark for placement with the client standing, though I do the
procedure while the piercee is reclining with the back of the table
raised at about a 45-degree angle. If the torso is completely flat, the
skin is more taut and harder to work with.
Doing tissue manipulation before the actual stick helps to separate
the layers so that you pierce no deeper than the dermis, and not into the
subcutaneous tissue. Lift and roll the skin for 20 to 30 seconds or longer.
A curved bar is subject to less friction and stress, but for added stimulation
of a partner’s clitoris, a ring can be worn after healing. A captive circular
barbell is a great option for that purpose, as the three balls provide a
good chance of connecting with the right spot for her enjoyment.
When a pubic piercing is located in the correct width of pliable
tissue where the penis meets the body, you should have an excellent
success rate whether your client is a rock star or not. o
PAINMAG.COM
By Elayne Angel
A
Florida health inspector contacted me with an
important question that deserves to be addressed,
and the information widely shared. Her inquiry was
regarding the APP’s stance on the prepackaged “sterile”
instruments, needles, and jewelry that are being marketed
and sold to our industry. (She had seen an increase in use
of these items by piercers in her state.) When she set out
to research the procedures used for the sterilization of
these products, she reported that she could not locate any
manufacturers of body piercing instruments, needles, or
jewelry that follow the standards for sterility established in
the United States for medical device manufacturers.
In the U.S., manufacturers selling sterile products are
obligated to follow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
21 CFR part 820 and International Standardization
Organization standard 13485 for sterilization to ensure
that their products are safe and effective. These detailed
good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements form
a highly structured system for regulating quality, and
govern the methods used in the design, manufacture,
packaging, labeling, and storage of all finished devices
intended for human use.
All items used in a piercing (including jewelry,
needles, tools, and any other supplies or equipment)
must be sterilized in the studio using an autoclave that
is spore-tested regularly. The only exceptions to this would
be medical supplies that come directly from a medical supply
vendor who adheres to the requisite stringent standards, or
a body art industry supplier who can certify that they uphold
the same requirements. The APP Procedure Manual
describes in- house sterilization:
“To minimize the risk of cross-contamination and to
ensure that the piercing procedure is as clean as possible,
many components of a piercing set-up are disposable. Unless
supplies will be sterilized in a Statim autoclave immediately
prior to the procedure, all disposables must be individually
packaged in autoclave bags, sterilized, and remain in
their pouches stored in enclosed, nonporous containers
until use. Disposable materials that can and should be
autoclaved include piercing needles, corks, rubber bands,
cotton swabs, toothpicks, and gauze.”
The excerpt below is from my book, The Piercing
Bible: The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing: Even in
studios where procedures are done only with disposable
equipment, an autoclave must be used. A piercer cannot
be certain that needles and body jewelry are sent in a
sterile state or whether contamination occurs during
shipping. Medical suppliers have stringent requirements
for sterilization and packaging, but other industries are
not held to the same standard.
Piercers and body art business owners should pay
close attention to this issue for the safety of their clients.
It has become clear that many piercers are making the
assumption that items touted as “sterile” are ready to use
in the studio. However, this may not be the case when the
products come from body art suppliers. While piercers
aren’t medical professionals, this is an area in which
abiding by their practices is entirely appropriate.
When you buy “sterile” prepackaged products
from body jewelry and piercing supply companies,
be aware that they are not bound by the same requirements
that govern the medical field. For safety you must sterilize
on-site all jewelry and needles, as well as forceps and
other tools before use.
Only when sterile items are purchased from medical
suppliers—who must uphold strict CGMP standards—
can articles be considered ready for use without sterilizing
in-house. The only exception would be if your body art
industry supplier can show you certification that they are
following the same stringent standards required by the
medical industry. o
The mission of the Association of Professional
Piercers is to circulate vital
? health, safe
ty,and
education
information to the professional piercing industry, health care providers
the general public.
1?888?888?1277
PAINMAGAZINE 18
Business
Insider
“A few years ago an artist was tattooing his client when the portable light
hanging over the client’s leg burst, causing third degree burns and sending
him to the ER,” said Jay Pallante, agent for Allen Financial Group.
“The claim was about $70K. They paid out on it, because the insurance
company found him negligent in his professional liability.” Rewrite that
story for shops with only general liability coverage: The client sued.
The shop closed. The owner went under. He wasn’t even the artist.
Pallante won’t write a policy without a professional liability
extension to the general liability base. “It’s like a doctor’s malpractice
insurance. The biggest exposure shops have is needle to skin, although
they don’t always see it that way. If an owner isn’t willing to cover the
studio properly, they can get a basic policy somewhere else.”
Another carrier not willing to write general liability only is Crimson
Business Insurance. Agent Ambere St. Denis said, ”Vandalism, theft,
stolen equipment; general liability is standard. But for a studio, alleging
inappropriate conduct or saying the equipment got them ill has to be
responded to.” And that can be costly. “Even if it’s found to be frivolous
or fraudulent, it slows down operations. Getting a policy to handle
that offsets it into the insurance carrier.”
Many clients have come to her after learning the hard way, having
suffered from improper coverage. “One client had tattooed a minor
with parental consent, but the client made allegations of misconduct.
The client spent hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket to get it
thrown out of court,” said St. Denis. After shutting down operations
and starting as a new entity, this time his next move was to secure a
professional liability policy.
Susan Etter with PPIB (Professional Program Insurance Brokerage)
is yet another agent who won’t write anything without professional
liability, noting that employees and independent contractors don’t always
have the owner’s business interests in mind. Echoing the experience of
St. Denis’ client: “We’ve had issues where artists or piercers have
suggested in explicit detail to some cute young thing how she can pay
for her tattoo or piercing,” she said. “That’s usually a lawsuit; not
against the piercer, but against the name on the door. “
continued on page 24
PAINMAGAZINE 20
“My goal with the tattoo artists was to make sure they
have everything they need to be creative, and to give
them the space to help them grow as artists,” Verno says.
“I'm focussed and passionate about my career, and the
tattoo artists are as well. I really have to give the tattoo
artists props. . . they're in control of their own destiny.”
Being a seasoned piercer, Verno is often sought
out by those wanting piercings and body mods that
are outside the box – tongue splitting, implants,
scarifications, you name it, he'll consider it, as long
as it's “feasible and viable” and works well with the
anatomy. One of the reasons that Verno kept the shop
in St. Paul rather than moving to the bigger city of
Minneapolis is that the local regulations were more
open towards more extreme modification.
That includes suspensions. The shop has suspension
rigs built into it in the lobby ceiling with anchor points
in the floor, and Verno will hold group suspension
sessions when there are enough requests. He'll also
take groups outside to various locations, like a
secluded island on the Mississippi river.
continued on page 32
PAINMAGAZINE 22
Studio Insurance
continued
And then there are problems from unplanned results. Etters
tells of the shoulder-to-shoulder tattoo intended to say ‘resurrection.’
“It was done in a hideously rendered, Old English font four inches
high and missing an R. You just can’t fix that,” she said.
Kim Zem, who owns Velvet Panther, tells of a studio client who
impaired a woman’s hearing for life. “He accidentally dropped a
tiny ball into the ear canal. Since he could see it, he decided to dig
it out.” Instead, he accidentally jammed the ball in the canal and
destroyed her ear drum. “Weird things happen that you just can’t
anticipate,” said Zem. “She didn’t sue him, but we helped the client
out.” Etter notes that not everyone’s as understanding. “The number
one thing many shops don’t think about is no matter how careful you
are and how good you are at your trade, you can’t eliminate mistakes,
and you can’t prevent crazy.”
People who like to cause problems. People who complain.
People who change their minds. People whose significant others
don’t approve of the tattoo or piercing: how it was done, the way it
looks, or that it exists, and thus the client charges back into the studio
threatening to sue. Pallante tells of the shop that completed a dragon
on a woman’s back. She alleged that they had colored the dragon’s
eyes incorrectly. “The company said,’ Let’s just be done with it,’
and gave her $3K,” said Pallante.
Zem warns of walk ins. “They are the number one accusers.
They have no loyalty to the shop or the artist,” she said. “If they’re
out of money and need something, they’ll cause an allergic reaction,
an ER visit, or accuse the artist of using dirty needles.” Zem teaches
classes to studio owners on the details of insurance. “Attorneys are
holding seminars on how to sue tattoo studios. And ER doctors don’t
realize almost everything is disposable.”
All the agents recommend a communicable disease extension.
The presence of needles, even disposable, combined with a person
looking to profit, can sink a shop fast. Said Etter, “Both MRSA and
staph may live in a body but not show up until the skin is punctured.
The client has no idea they’ve been carrying it.” She said most of the
studios she’s seen are cleaner than many doctor’s offices. “Chances
are good the client didn’t pick up the infection at the studio, but who
do you think they’re going to blame?”
Pallante is baffled as to why with so many needles present,
more studios don’t include it in their policy. “A lot opt out. I don’t
know why, because it’s really cheap, and it’s very important to have.”
St. Denis agrees. “That can be worth the entire policy. We’re talking
several hundred instead of losing several thousand for having
a claim that the studio might not survive. It’s money well spent.”
Zem recommends her clients also purchase a video system, but not
just because it helps with theft. “If an artist or piercer is accused of
using dirty or unsafe needles, it can disprove that by showing them
setting up and opening the package,” she said. “It’s a big line of
defense against con artists.”
There are also other, more specialized policies available
from companies who understand tattoo studios and the trade.
Those include coverage for apprenticeship programs, guest artists or
piercers, conventions, and permanent make up. But studio insurance
specialists agree that general, professional and infectious disease are
coverages no studio should be without. “Release forms aren’t sufficient.
Studios need insurance for what release forms don’t cover,” said Zem.
“Claims are on the rise. Staph is number one. Walk-ins are number
two, and customer dissatisfaction can get ugly quickly.” o
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J
uly 24th, 2015 marked the first of the three day long 9th Annual Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo at the Radisson in Downtown
Manchester, New Hampshire. Despite being one of New England’s longest running tattoo expos and the year preceding their
greatly anticipated 10th anniversary, the LFOD Team did not disappoint in creativity, entertainment, or professionalism.
Having sold out of 127 artist and vendor booths week’s prior, registration was busy but ran like a well-oiled machine. With an
extremely hands-on team on-site all weekend organization is one of Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo’s strongest attributes. Ready with
pre-packaged registration packets, a detailed map and schedule, extra hands to help with load in, and plenty of friendly smiles it’s
easily the most welcoming tattoo expo in the Northeast.
continued on page 34
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To enter your business card in our monthly Best Business Card Contest, simply mail your card to PAIN Magazine, 9901 Acoma Rd. SE, Albuquerque, NM
87123. Cards are selected based on what we think is cool, creative, or otherwise worthy of attention. All cards will be entered into a contest for “Card of the
Year” in 2015. The owner of the card selected by our distinguished panel of judges will win $100. Winner must call in to claim prize.
PAINMAGAZINE 30
TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN
Shop of the Month continued
Verno may do 30-40 piercings a day, but he spends time with
each client educating them on aftercare. Long before there was a shop,
he would speak to college students about the aspect of
professional piercing.
“It's not just about soaking (the piercing in salt water),” he says,
“I want to educate them on some basic science so there are no problems,
and they'll be a better client down the road.”
The jewelry used and sold at Holy Mackerel is all top of the line, made
from implant grade metals. Companies represented include Anatomical,
Industrial Strength, Body Circle, Body, Body Regime, Scylla, Gorilla
Glass, Glassware, Maya, and Tawapa.
Want something flashy? Verno will show you a piece in gold with
hand-set gemstones, and if you don't find exactly what you're looking
for, he'll handcraft it for you personally.
“I tell people to think fine jewelry rather than body jewelry,” he says.
Everything about The Holy Mackerel is of the highest standard,
as matter of fact, and that includes the ideals. It's Verno's mission is to
champion others to grow personally and artistically so that can reach
the top level of their craft.
“There's enough talent in the shop for clients to get anything done as
long as it's feasible and ethical,” he says, “. . . it's just become a little
mecca of body art.” O
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Sponsored by MOM’s of Manchester and supporting The
Friends of Manchester Animal Shelter, the hallways outside the
venue were lined with motorcycle eye candy and adorable
pooches up for adoption, both of which tugged at heart strings
all weekend long. Besides the expected entertainment of live
tattooing by amazing artists such as Tebori Tattooist, Takashi
Matsuba, Chad Chase of Venom Ink, and Tyler Malek of
Underworld Tattoo Company; this expo offers a packed
entertainment schedule leaving no time for boredom.
Performing 7 shows throughout the weekend was the Coney
Island Circus Sideshow. Sword swallowing, glass dancing,
phone book tearing, and optical illusions filled their set thrilling
the consistently full crowd of children and adults! The always
lovely and poised Miss Marlo Marquise has forever been one
of the most enjoyable performers at this expo. Accompanied
this year by Victoria LeMeow, their multiple back to back
suspension performances were awe inspiring, sexy, and
downright wild! A popular staple at LFOD is their annual
Pin-Up Pageant, themed this year as “Roarin’ 20s”, but a new
addition was the Beard & Moustache contest sponsored
by Killer Beard Oil. Filling in the gaps between stage
performances were multiple tattoo contests with an endless
amount of sign-ups and impressive award winners.
It was truly a great weekend at the Live Free or Die
Tattoo Expo and next year’s 10th Anniversary promises to
be even better! If you’ve yet to check out this expo, 2016 is
surely the year to do it! We’ll see you there! O
Note from the President of Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo:
My sincerest thanks go out to the Live Free or Die Tattoo
Expo longtime supporters and serious talent such as Friends
of the Manchester Animal Shelter, Tommy Supply, Marlo
Marquise and her amazing team, the Coney Island
Sideshow, Venom Ink, Jim’s Tattoo, Spider-Bite, and the
amazingly talented artists at Tattoo Angus. To my staff
Emilie, Michael, Lacey, and Jennifer: I hope you all know I
could never do any of this without you. I am looking forward
to celebrating 10 amazing years of LFOD with everyone
next year! -Jon Thomas
PAINMAGAZINE 34
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PAINMAGAZINE 38
“This is one of the only industries in which the customer is not always right,” said Steve Gulbin, co-owner of Marc’s Tattooing in
Wilkes-Barre, PA, talking about clients who aren’t set up for what they want. “I’ll say, ‘Let’s talk about something else.’”
Sometimes they walk out the door, looking for the piercer who will do what Gulbin won’t. “And exactly what I feared would happen,
happens. Improper placement. It doesn’t lay right. Or the healing won’t happen.” He turns clients down more often than he’d like to.
“Sometimes it’s like a girl asking for a Prince Albert. She doesn’t have the right equipment for it.” Gulbin welcomes them back with open
arms and turns them into lifetime clients. “I’m not going to do something that will hurt someone just to make a buck.”
Gulbin was attracted to the technical aspects of piercing. “I look at it for the symmetry, like an architect would. How it’s going
to look in the end. How it will heal.” He’s not into what he calls the spiritual side,”the traditional tribal, ritualistic aspect.” Suspension,
large gauge piercings and intense body modification. “I have nothing against it though, and I’m happy to comply with that if that’s what
the person wants,” said Gulbin. “I have a lot of piercer friends who are into it, like Jon (Owens – co-owner), and they’re awesome piercers
and awesome dudes.”
What Gulbin does object to, however, are people who think they know how to pierce. He’s a big proponent of apprenticeships,
has had one himself and accepts apprentices. “Too many people pick up a needle and start piercing people. If you want to pierce
yourself and you want to experiment on yourself, you have the right to do that,” he said. “But when you pick up a needle without training
and start piercing other people that’s where I draw the line.” O
Marc’s Tattooing Wilkes-Barre, PA
@Marcs309
PAINMAGAZINE 40
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Roselle, IL
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And boy, are they sarcastic. He thanks a
praise-seeking cab driver who picked up Barry instead
of a woman—despite the fact that Barry was there
first, and that’s how cabs are supposed to work—for
“passing up a guaranteed opportunity to get laid.”
Elsewhere, while describing an apartment hunt,
he visits a particularly unimpressive listing: “A tile
bathroom—I can’t even imagine what that’s like.
I wonder if it’s like every bathroom I’ve ever been in…
in my entire life…including the one at the bus station?”
Out of context, these barbs may sound uninteresting,
juvenile or lacking in insight, but again, it’s all in the
delivery, the unraveling. He starts with a simple premise
like “Young people use stupid phrases,” points to a
couple of them, then spirals out from there, referring to
community-college students as old Bluesmen, then soliciting
fruit suggestions from the audience to further point out the
silliness of it all.
Y
His stage persona also lends well to bravado.
“This guy’s slapping his knee; he’s doing everything
right,” he notices at one point, smugly assured that his
comedy is worthy of the man’s amusement. “He said ‘Of
course,’ as if there were no choice. And there isn’t a
choice.” Elsewhere he mentions his killing on the
open-mic circuit, how he’s our time’s best topical
comedian, and so on. The difference between a cocky,
in-your-face comedian and Barry is stark, and it helps add
to his likability. The arrogance is a put-on, of course,
but it’s not aggravating, either.
ou probably know Todd Barry, even if you don’t
think you know Todd Barry. He’s worked on a
veritable laundry list of amazing television/movies
(Louie, Flight of the Conchords, The Wrestler, Bob’s
Burgers, Bored to Death, Chappelle’s Show, Aqua
Paradoxically, self-deprecation is also in the mix.
Teen Hunger Force, Delocated), all the while crafting his snarky
stand up for audiences all over the world. On the latter, he’s When fans ask Barry if things like a drunkard throwing
dropped three albums and a Comedy Central Presents, but up in the front row is a setup, or a “30-woman
somehow this is his first hour special for the humor behemoth. bachelorette party wearing chocolate dick helmets and
talking throughout [the] show,” only to confront him at the
Much of Super Crazy‘s material starts like so: a simple bar after they’ve been kicked out, he does a good job
setup (“I did a show in South Carolina…”), followed by of making his life seem a lot harder than it probably is.
something a little bit weirder (guy asks him about making But when he turns it around to telling the joke about
tons of money doing comedy), followed by Barry plucking puking and an actual person pukes during said joke, and
the weirdness apart, mocking the absurd person or thing the whole “magical” incident scaring the living shit out of
(“I can tell by the question you’re in it for the right reasons.”), the audience (“His jokes come to life!”), it wraps up the
often beating that absurdity like so many dead horses. bit with a nice little bow of resolution. Yes, the sarcastic
The slow-burn unraveling is Barry’s calling card, and it man and the arrogant man and the self-deprecating man
works more often than not throughout Super Crazy. The best are the same man. Barry is large; he contains multitudes.
moments are when he, in character or not, gets befuddled
Super Crazy ends on a positive note…sort of.
by how long a bit has stretched out.
As the story goes, he’s been thinking about the happiest
Barry’s dulcet, breathy deadpan is mesmerizing in its moments in his life. Without spoiling the bit, let’s just say
restraint. Like Steven Wright with extra smirk, Barry’s delivery it comes at the expense of some asshole he’s rolling his
gets into a warm and fuzzy rhythm that can alternately help eyes at surreptitiously. But would you really have it any
or hurt his jokes, depending on the viewer’s expectations and other way? Like his role on Louie, which exists mostly to
tolerance. Annoyed by a mildly shticky characteristic? Barry mock the show’s titular creator, Barry is here to keep the
will likely drive you batshit, his voice slowly grating away ridiculousness of the world in check. Or at least to allow
at your sanity. But it’s easy to get into his zone if you give us all to laugh at it with him. And what’s more positive
than that? O
right of way to his sarcastic observations.
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